Tag Archives: ouya

When Oni Press released the info for the open submissions, I was nowhere near ready. I had nothing at all done really. I wanted to get the game out first and then look into the novel part of this but it’s a great opportunity. If I can get my pitch straight and that may be my perfectionism getting in the way. If Oni Press takes my submission then I can be a writer and still do everything else without doing the art, lettering and coloring myself.

When I used to do comics in high school, I would sketch out my pages but never actually scripted it. That part I actually found kind of easy, it’s the cover letter and other stuff that is tripping me up big time. Every time I think I’m ready to click the submit button, something comes up.

The picture you see is of my main protagonist Maximillian. For those reading this for the first time, my pitch is a novel based on my game Astra Etherium: A Space Bounty Hunter in Space. Maximillian is a cocky space pirate, who sacrificed his life to save another. What Maximillian doesn’t know is that he will be offered a second chance, if he becomes one of the “good guys” and captures some of the same people he used to run with.

Unfortunately for me, the person who drew this Maximillian has disappeared without a trace and I don’t even know why, so he may have a different look when things are finished. This is something I had to deal with while developing the game, people disappearing. That’s why things have been delayed over and over but it looks like we’re coming to the end of the line on the game end of things. The first version of Astra Etherium should be out late June/early July for OUYA and some mobile platforms and then release to other platforms from there. So hopefully my game will be out with a positive response from Oni Press. If not, then at least I have the game and I have enough of the pitch to work on it on the side.

So Oni Press was looking for graphic novel submissions. Due to all my projects going on or planned, I sent in Astra Etherium as a writer. I just won’t have time for art and all that. Oni Press can hook you up with an artist and they’re looking for them too so that’s always a plus. Hopefully someone will be able to match the look I have for the book.

Astra Etherium wasn’t planned to be a graphic novel but if it can get me in the door then why not. It does fit graphic novel more than a light novel anyway and if this works out then I just have to write and someone has to finish the art. It works out well for me.

Look at me talking like they already accepted me. Since I have big plans for Astra Etherium, this would be a great starting point. I have the game coming, then the remastered version of the game, and hopefully the graphic novel. It’s something that I can see as an anime someday and hope it progresses to that or that I have a legion of fans that would back the project on Kickstarter if that was to happen.

**Update** False start, going to submit Monday after realizing I left out a synopsis and summary. It gave me time to rewrite scenes and I think they came out better this time. I had to cut down the scenes for the submission anyway. They won’t take over 20 scripted pages and I have 26. So now they will have the first 13 pages of the story and an introduction to a character who will play a big role later on. Even if Oni Press says no, at least I have it scripted. Even though I drew comics in the past, I never scripted it in comic format. From the feedback I’m getting, it seems like I have it down and the few people did enjoy the scenes.

As some of you reading this know, I planned to have a light novel or graphic novel of my game Astra Etherium: Adventures of a Space Bounty Hunter in Space available in the future. Well there is an opportunity with Oni Press where they are looking for submissions so this may be my chance to make this happen without going the Kickstarter route or shopping for publishers. I wanted to keep it as a light novel so that it isn’t completely art heavy but now that the opportunity is here, I’m writing out a few graphic novel pages to see if they’ll take me on. If not, then it will go back to being a light novel plan and hopefully some day maybe an anime show. Whether it happens or not, Maximillian has many more adventures to come.

In the next few days I will start populating my company blog for my gaming stuff. Just wanted that to be posted here so you can take a look if you want. Most people know me from the gaming stuff anyway so here you go.

When it comes to reviews, it can be a blessing and a curse. You can review some quality stuff, people try it out and they like it too. Or you can review something just horrible and people thank you for saving them the trouble. But then you have the gray area where you review something and people don’t agree. Not everyone thinks the same so I’m fine with that, if you disagree with me then let’s talk and have a discussion as long as it’s something you go into with an open mind.

One thing that makes the job a bit more difficult is when you review something, like it and then change your mind later. It usually happens when I do game reviews. When I do these anime reviews they stay kind of static. I do game reviews over on OUYAForum.com and sometimes a game is great out the box but after a while things change. Like it can be great one day then the next you’re sitting there calling it crap. That comes with repetition though, not something that can really be helped, if you have tiramisu everyday then sooner or later you will want something else.

There are also times where I give a game a good review and for some reason the developer doesn’t like it. This is a weird one for me, if I give you a good review then why have an issue? That’s the way I look at it, if someone said they like my game or other product then why would I have an issue with that. Yet they’ll kiss up to someone who gives a bad review or is destructive in what they say. It makes no sense to me but it is what it is I guess.

Another thing with reviews is trying to give people a review and thoughts without making it so long they get bored halfway through and also not giving spoilers. For me, I’d rather know what you think and that’s it, not all the fluff and crap added, not just extra type so you can see your words take over a screen. Give me a review and let me make the decision if I want to continue or not. I feel like a review should be more like a preview unless the goal is to give a full synopsis of the project.

I hope that’s the same way when my projects are out and someone does a review. No spoilers, no extra long winded reviews just to say “I like it” or “I hate it”. I’ve actually targeted people who I’d like doing reviews of my stuff, these are people who I know will give an honest and unbiased opinion while being constructive if there is any criticism. Obviously there will be others who will do their own reviews and that’s great but the only thing I ask for is be fair just like I will be to you.

Sure it can be a tough line to walk because as a developer, I will also be reviewed and I’m sure someone will do something out of spite or “revenge” in their minds. That’s why I was unsure at first about doing reviews but it’s a review and my thoughts, not someone else’s. I’d rather be helping someone along than trying to destroy what they’re trying to do and anyone who has had conversations with me knows that. If there is something I can help with, I’ll help. You never know, there may be a day when you’re the one who needs that help.

Maybe it’s just me, who knows. Maybe I’m just a different kind of cat.

Unfortunately, Astra Etherium didn’t make the end of March date I had hoped. There were some other issues that popped up, the HUD had to be redesigned and just a bunch of other things that are out of my control. Anyone who knows me knows, I hate when things are out of my control when it comes to my projects.

Astra Etherium will still have most of the features mentioned like leaderboards, achievements, etc. but Nuggeta changed their API so 2 player online may be dropped for now. Every time we seem to be near the finish line, something else pops up. Just like when I thought I had an easy solution to the localization issue and the asset had to be pulled. I have someone helping on the code side and he actually coded something himself which I’m sure took time though he hasn’t told me how much time he spent on that (he might be avoiding answering the question.)

Feels like forever ago when I thought this thing would be done. Astra Etherium: Adventures of a Space Bounty Hunter in Space is moving into the final stages (I thought it was there before but some issues came up.) The game really was supposed to be much simpler but then we added speech, had to change art, went through several music people…it just kept going on and on and on. It will feel like a weight lifted off my shoulders when this thing is finally out there. Hopefully someone out there likes it. Hopefully more than one.